Quick crossword

ACROSS

3 Spectacular misuse of core time (8)

8 Hen, we're told, is in the den (4)

9 Further employment of table offering liqueur (10)

10 Wager on her, initially? (4)

11 Old sex appeal is on the way out (4)

13 Female awards two points to troubled actor (5)

17 An acceptable weapon for the writer (6)

18 See 26 Across

19 I spin a yarn about the Israeli port (5)

22 Yours truly and the soldier might begin to warm up (4)

24 Where to pose question to terrorists? (4)

25 Scottish publisher's degree merits an upgrade (10)

26 & 18 Across Pop singer hesitantly put in charge of an opera (4,6)

27 Leading journalist takes 1000 around little Dickensian's unknown criminal (3,5)

DOWN

1 Beam which might come from 5 (5)

2 Gold, and where it might be stored, by the artist's band? (9)

4 Feel sorry about decapitating the bird (5)

5 Listeners accept original lords and other titled fellows (5)

6 The way for a dissolute fellow to go round the junction (5)

7 Can linger, perhaps, losing the right to be dusting and hoovering? (8)

12 It's fair to assume one will find some missionaries here! (4)

14 Novel version of their dams (4,5)

15 Actor spends a period in pale surroundings (8)

16 Where to find Phil Taylor in Loch Earn (4)

20 Novelist goes on excellent road with titled Scot (5)

21 A sense of discrimination (5)

22 The French drink is sent back in the painting (5)

23 Wireless plug in port (5)

LAST WEEK'S SOLUTION:

Across. 1, Deadly Sin. 8, Aroma. 9, See 19 Down. 11, Profit. 12, Recital. 13, Abba. 14, Mow. 17, Ned. 18, Epee. 21, Panache. 23, Nature. 24, Seminal. 25, Norma. 26, Nick Nolte. Down 2, Exile. 3 & 6 Down, Dustin Hoffman. 4, Sat. 5, Nairobi. 6, See 3 Down. 7, Partridge. 10, Elan. 12, Remaining. 15, Western. 16, Meg Ryan. 19 & 9 Across, Kate Winslet. 20, Pacino. 22, Heart. 24, Sic.